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CANtrace UI

This section describes the basic user interface of the CANtrace program.

Export Graph Data Dialog

The program title bar displays the path of the project file you have opened with CANtrace. The status bar displays the current data and ID format, the current on/off bus status, the status of logging, the status of scripting, the log file playback progress, and the license state.

Menu Description
File Offers commands for creating, loading, and saving project files; configuring database (DBC) files; and opening the Kvaser Database Editor.
Tools Offers commands for setting up CAN interfaces and go on/off bus commands.
Measurement Offers commands to control bus off/on and pause/resume.
Trace Displays the name of the currently selected tab.
View Used to set which tabs should be visible or invisible. Disabled while on bus or while any tab is floating.
Floating Offers commands for floating tabs into their own windows and docking them back. See Tab Layout.
Logging Offers commands for configuring logging and DBC logging.
Help Offers commands for opening the help document and importing licenses.

Toolbar

The toolbar offers a convenient way to quickly access the most commonly used commands. Buttons that cannot be used at the moment, for example CAN Settings while on bus, are shown in light grey.

Icon Name Description
Start Start Initializes the configured CAN interfaces and starts tracing (goes on-bus).
Stop Stop Stops tracing and disconnects the configured CAN interfaces (goes off-bus).
Pause Pause Trace Pauses tracing and stores incoming data in a temporary buffer. Also pauses active file logging.
Resume Resume Trace Resumes tracing and replays the data buffered during the pause. Resumes file logging if "Logging while OnBus" is enabled.
CAN Settings CAN Settings Opens the CAN Interfaces Settings window. This button is disabled while active on the bus.
Associate Database Associate Database Opens the dialog to add, remove, or edit associated databases.
HEX HEX Switches display formatting for all CAN data and identifiers to hexadecimal.
DEC DEC Switches display formatting for all CAN data and identifiers to decimal.
Database Editor Database Editor Opens the external Kvaser Database Editor.
Float current tab Float current tab Floats the selected tab into its own window. See Tab Layout.
Float all tabs Float all tabs Floats every docked tab into its own window.
Dock all tabs Dock all tabs Docks every floating tab back to the main window.
Split tabs Split tabs Selects the layout of the main window: Main view, Side by side, Top and bottom or Grid (2 × 2). See Tab Layout.
Help Help Opens the application help documentation (this document).

Status Bar

The status bar provides a real-time overview of the current application state:

  • Tracing: Indicates whether the application is currently On-Bus or Off-Bus.
  • Number Base: Displays whether identifiers and data are formatted as Hexadecimal or Decimal.
  • Logging: Shows whether log file generation is Active or Disabled.
  • Scripting: Displays the current execution status of the integrated Python script.
  • Playback: Shows how far the log file has been played back with a progress bar and a percentage, also after going off bus, or N/A when log file playback is not in use. A repeat icon is shown when Loop Playback is on. Hover over it to see the log file name, the played time and the full length of the log file. See Logfile Playback.
  • License: Shows the validation status of the current application license.